Shoe cleaning apparatus



Julir 26,1960 A. M. DYER 2,946,077

lSH01; CLEANING APPARATUS l Filed Aug. 19, 1957 5 sheets-sheet 1 v ARTHUR M. DYE/ I INVENTOR.

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INVENTOR. AR THUR M. DYE l? www@ fm* M/ M Arromns'ys/ July 26, 1960 A. M. DYER 2,946,077

SHOE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 19, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 326 F/G. /3 y INVENTOR. ARTHUR M. DYER BYU/0&2, MJM/ Arron/VHS July 26, 1960 A. M. DYER 2,946,077

sHoE: CLEANING APPARATUS 446 45o M A445 44o 45o INVENTOR. Aer/fun M. DYER BMM'@ M M7 Afro/mers States Patent SHOE CLEANING APPARATUS Arthur M. Dyer, 523 N. Graves, El Cajon, Calif.

Filed Aug. 19, 1957, Ser. No. 678,876

9 Claims. (Cl. 15-238) The present invention relates to a shoe cleaning device and more particularly to a device -for cleaning the soles of shoes, while the shoes are being worn, by the wearer stepping on the platform of the device.

In practicing the present invention, I provide a plurality of closely spaced, substantially horizontally extending strips which form a platform onto which the wearer of a shoe steps. The mechanism is so constructed and arranged that altern-ate strips move longitudinally relative to the intermediate strips upon pressure being applied to the strips through the shoe sole of the wearer. The mechanism also provides for returning these yalternate strips to their `original position when the foot pressure is removed.

More specifically and in carrying out the above, the mechanism is so constructed and arranged that adjacent strips are moved in opposite directions upon being subjected to foot pressure.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing one aspect of the invention;

Fi-gs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken on lines 2 2 and 3 3 respectively of Fig. '1, but on a larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a top pl-an view showing another aspect of the invention;

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary `sectional -views taken on lines 5 5 and 6 6 of Fig. 4 but on a larger scale;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a top plan View, partly broken away, showing lanother aspect of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9 9 yof Fig. 8, but on a larger scale;

Figs. l0, 11 and 12 are sectional views taken on lines -10, 11-11 and 12 12 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a top plan view showing another aspect of the invention, part of the machine being broken away;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 14-14 of Fig. 13, but on a larger scale;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 but showing another position of the shoe platform;

Fig. .16 is a top plan view, partly broken away, showing another aspect of the invention;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of arrows 17 of Fig. 16; and

Figs. 18 and 19 are fragmentary sectional views taken on lines 1S 18 and 19 19 of Fig. :16, but on a'larger scale.

:Referring -more in detail tothe drawings, vand more 4particularly to Figs. l, yZand 3, there .is shown a frame -20 which .forms the base of the machine. It includes two .angleiron end members 22 yand 24 which :are `suitably secured to two side members 26 and 28, also formed of angle iron and two angle iron guide members 30 and 32. 'Ihe guide members 30 and 32 are suitably secured to the end members 26 yand 28. The guide members 30 and 32 are L-shaped in cross-section, with the base 34 thereof extending horizontally and the legs 36 extending vertically. Each of these legs is provided with a plurality of slits 38 extending downwardly through substantially half the length of the legs 36 to form a comb-like member having teeth 40. The confronting side walls of the teeth form guides.

Each of the spaces between the teeth 40 receives the ear-like guide 42 of a strip 44. These strips, like the other parts hereinbefore described, may be formed of sheet metal. The sheet metal strip Yis upright and extends generally horizontally with one ofthe ears between a set of teeth of the leg 36 of member 30, and the other ear between Ia set of teeth 40 in the vertical leg 36 of the member 32. The top edge of each strip 44 carries a plurality of cleats 46, alternate cleats extending in opposite directions as is more clearly shown in Fig. l. These cleatsrare formed by cutting the strip vertically and then bending adjacent cleats in opposite directions.

The under edges 48 of the strips 44 are notched upwardly as at 50 to provide camming surfaces 52 which are arranged to ride upon camming surfaces 54 formed vby the material intermediate the teeth 40. The length of the strips 44 including the ears 42 is less than the distance between the inner walls 56 of the members 22 and 24 whereby the strips 44 can be moved to the right and left as viewed in Figs. l to 3. An elongated generally U-shaped leaf .spring 58 has a leg 60 suitably secured to the inner wall 56 of the member 22 and a similar spring 58 is secured in the same manner to the inner wall 56 of the` member 24. The free legs k60 of these springs `are provided with a plurality of slots -62 to provide spring tines 64. Alternate ears extend between the tines 64 and abut the leg 60 and the intermediate ears abut the tines 60. Also opposite ears of a strip 44 engage respectively a tine 164 of one spring and extend between the tines and abut wthe leg .'60 of the opposite spring. ,From the foregoing, it will be seen that alternate 'strips'44 are urged downwardly and to the right by the tine 64 of the left spring and the intermediate strips 44 are urged downwardly `'and to the left by the right spring. Therefore when foot pressure is applied to the top ofthe strips 44, alternate strips will move in one direction and the intermediate strips will move in the opposite direction. Also it will be observed lthat when the foot pressure is released the tines, which have been compressed, will return the strips to their lhome position ythrough lthe camming action between the cam- -ming surfaces 52 on the strips 44, and the camming surface 54 on the members 36 and 32.

In the embodiments ,shown in Figs. 4 and 7 inclusive, the members 136 :are provided with a plurality of slots 138 to provide a plurality of tines 140 which are alternately bentin opposite directions at an angle of substantially y45 degrees. Y

The strips 144 are inverted substantially U- s'haped `in cross-section, as ismore clearly shown inFig. 7., and each of the vertical legs 14S thereof is provided with aslit 1'50 ydisposed .at an angle of 45 degrees to complement .the tines 140. The slits 150 ,of alternate strips 144 `receive alternate tines which extend upwardly `andto `the-rightas viewed in Figs. 5 and V6., .and the slits 150 vvof ,the'inter- :mediate strips receive the intermediate tines 140. Thus `it will Vbe .seen .that when .foot pressure is applied .toV the top of the .strips 144,.alternate strips will be moved to the and also will be moved downwardly.

The leaf spring 158 is provided with a plurality of U-shaped sections each including a leg 160 and a leg 162. These U-shaped sections are connected with one another by portion 163 which extends through slots 165 in the legs 145. The leg 160 of one U-shaped section is connected to one of the legs 145 of one of the strips 144 and the other leg 162 is connected to the next adjacent leg of the next adjacent strip 144. 'I'hus when pressure is applied to the top of the strips 144, the legs 160 will be moved under stress in one direction and the legs 162 will be moved under stress in the opposite direction, and, when the pressure is released the U-shaped section Will return the strips 144 to their home position.

It will be observed from Fig. 7 that the inverted U-shaped strips are provided with a plurality of transverse slots to provide the cleats 146. Also since the U-shaped spring section must be interposed between the confronting legs 145 of the strips 144, sufiicient space must be provided for this U-shaped spring section, and, in order to minimize the gap between these confronting legs of adjacent strips, the upper ends of the legs 145 are bowed outwardly.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive, the frame work comprises two parallely arranged members 236 which extend lengthwise of the apparatus. The strips 244 are formed of two sheets of metal 244a and 244b. The strips 244 of sheet metal 244a are spaced from one another to provide spaces 244C; likewise the strips 244 of sheet metal 244b are spaced from one another to provide spaces 244d. The legs 244 of sheet metal 244:1 are disposed within the space 244d and the legs of sheet metal 244b are disposed within the space 244e, as is clearly shown in Fig. 8. Each of the legs 244 is provided with a downwardly extending leg 245 disposed at right angles to the top of the strip as is more clearly shown in Fig. 9. Each of the legs 245 is provided with a hole 247 at one extreme end and a horizontally extending slot 250 at the other extreme end. A similar slot 250 is provided adjacent the rst mentioned end, and a similar hole 247 is provided adjacent the slot 250. Both holes 247 and slots 250 lie in the same horizontal plane. The next adjacent leg 245 of the next adjacent strip 244 has its slot and circular hole arranged in the reverse order as is seen by comparing Fig. 10 with Fig. 11. The circular holes 247 and the slots 250 receive rods 240 and 241. Four of such rods are provided. A rod 240 is received in the hole 247 of one of the strips 244 and is received by the slot 250 in the next adjacent strip. Likewise the rod 241 is received by the slot 250 in the strip that receives the rod 240 and the hole 247, and this same rod 241 is received in the circular hole 247 of the next adjacent strip.

The rods 240 and 241 are supported by the base members 236. Each of these members 236 is provided with camming surfaces 254 on opposite sides thereof which are formed by tapers that extend toward one another upwardly. The upper sides of the members 236 are provided with shoulders 254a which, in cooperation with the camming surfaces 254, provides notches 2541: for receiving the rods 240 and 241. Fig. l2 it will be seen that these rods 24() and 241 are yieldingly urged toward one another by springs 258. A bolt 258:1 extends transversely through both of the rods 241. One of the springs 258 is interposed between the head 25819 of the bolt and a washer 258e` which abuts the outer side of rod 240, and the other spring 258 is interposed between a like washer 258C which abuts the outer side of rod 241 and abuts a like washer 258C which is held in place by a nut 258d.

It will thus be seen pressure is applied to the strips 244 one of the sheet metal plates 244:1, including its strips 244, will be moved downwardly and toward the right because of the pins 241 being disposed in the circular holes 247, since the pin 241 will be shifted to the right due to the camming surfaces 254 on the right side of the members 236 and the plate 244b, and its strips 244 will be moved to the left, since the pins 241 extend through the circular opening 247 in the legs 245 of such strips, and because the pins will move downwardly over the left camming surfaces 254 of the members 236.

The downward movement of the strips will cause the spreading of pins 240 and 241 since they must follow the camming surfaces 254, and, such spreading is opposed by the springs 258. Therefore when the foot pressure is released, the springs 258 will be brought into action to move the rods 240 and 241 upwardly to thereby return the strip plates 244a and 244b to their home position. In the aspect of the invention shown in Figs. 13, 14 and l5, two weights 358 are substituted for the springs shown in Figs. 4 to 7. These weights 358 are pivotally carried by rods 359, and these rods are carried by the side members 326 and 328. In this embodiment the members 336 are also provided with tines 340 and slots 350 corresponding to the tines 140 and slots 150 in the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 to 7. As in the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 to 7, when pressure is applied to the strips 344, alternate strips will move in one direction and the intermediate strips will move in the opposite direction due to the alternate angling of the tines 340 and slots 350. The ends of the strips 344 overlie ledges 361 of the weights 358. Therefore when foot pressure is applied to the strips 344, the weight 358 on the left side will be moved in a clockwise direction while the weight on the opposite side will be moved in a counterclockwise direction. When the pressure is removed from the strips 344, the weights being of sufficient mass, will cause the strips 344 to be lifted and be shifted to their home position.

In the aspect of the invention shown in Figs. 16 to 19 inclusive, the strips 444 are U-shaped in cross-section and the legs 445 are provided with slots 450 which angle at approximately 45 degrees with respect to horizontal. Rods 440 extend through the slots 450 and through the plates 426 and 428, to thus hold the strips and plates in assembled relationship. The slots 450 in confronting legs 445 of adjacent strips 444 angle at 90 degrees from one another as is clearly shown. Springs 458 are interposed between the pairs of legs 445 or the strips 440 and these springs are wound around the rod 440 any yieldingly urge the strips 444 upwardly.

When foot pressure is applied to the strips 444, alternate strips will be moved to the right and downwardly and the intermediate strips will be moved to the left and downwardly due to the alternate angularity of the slots 450 in the adjacent confronting legs 445 of adjacent will be seen that because of alternate strips moving in Referring more particularly to from the foregoing that when foot 1 one direction and intermediate strips moving in the other direction, the entire sole of the shoe is suliiciently agitated to cause the disassociation of the dirt from the bottom of the sole, and since the dirt can fall between the cleats, substantially all dust and dirt is moved from the sole by merely stepping on the platform provided by the cleats.

Like parts or parts having like functions, have a numeral prefix added thereto, that is, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 to l2 the prefix "2 has been added; in the embodiment shown in Figs. 13, l4 and l5 the prex "3 has been added; and in the embodiment shown in Figs. 16 to 19 the prex 4 has been added.

While the forms of embodiments herein shown and described constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms may he adopted falling within the scope of the claims that follow.

I claim:

1. A shoe cleaner comprising base means having camming surfaces; a plurality of closely spaced, substantially horizontal extending strip means the top sides 'thereof lying in substantially a single horizontal plane and adapted to be engaged by `the sole of a shoe of a wearer of the shoe, the top sides of said strip means forming the sole supporting means for the wall of the shoe, said strip means each having camming surfaces cooperating with the camming surfaces on the base means, alternate camming surfaces of one of said means being inclined in the opposite direction for guiding all of said strip means for downward movement and for simultaneously guiding adjacent strip means for horizontal movement in opposite directions upon pressure being applied to all of said strip means through the shoe sole of the wearer; and means normally urging said strip means in directions opposite the irst mentioned directions of movements.

2. A shoe cleaner as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the last mentioned means includes a spring.

3. A shoe cleaner as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the last mentioned means includes a weight.

4. A shoe cleaner as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the second mentioned means comprises a pair of parallely arranged camming surfaces tapering toward one another; rods mounted for movement torfollow said tapered camming surfaces; and spring means normally tending to draw said rods against their respective camming surfaces.

5. A shoe cleaner as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the base means comprises two end members arranged on opposite sides of said strip means and rods connecting said strips; further characterized in that the second mentioned means comprises camming surfaces in ranged on opposite sides of said strip means and rods connecting said strips; further characterized in that the second mentioned means comprises camming surfaces in all of said strip means formed by slotted openings in said strip means, said openings receiving said rods and being disposed at an angle between horizontal and vertical.

7. A shoe cleaner as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the inclined camming means are on the strip means.

8. A shoe cleaner as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the inclined camming surfaces are on the base means.

9. A shoe cleaner as defined in claim 1, characterized in that cooperating inclined camming surfaces are formed on the base means and on the strip means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,577,294 Aben Dec. 4, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 247,649 Germany June 4, 1912 550,444 Germany May 14, 1932 

